Slight Chance of Science

Join us as we dive into the career of a Roanoke, Virginia native, and Virginia Tech alum Rebecca Keller, who flies directly into the heart of hurricanes as part of NOAA's elite Hurricane Hunter team. Discover what it's like to navigate the eye of the storm, the science behind these daring flights, and the vital data collected that helps keep communities safe.

Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner speaks with Extension Agent Shawn Jadrnicek about the different types of soil for gardening and what else we can grow through the rest of the summer months.

Meteorologist Catherine Maxwell speaks with a Dermatologist and a Senior Policy Advisor with the Environmental Protection Agency on the harmful effects the sun can pose on our bodies, what exactly the UV index is and why it's an important forecasting tool.

Firefly or lightning bug? Whichever way you call them there could possibly be a decline in spotting the glowing bug. An entomologist with Virginia Tech gives us perspective on what might be causing the decline.

There's a lot of talk about a historic cicada emergence in 2024, but it's not for everyone. Entomologist Douglas Pfeiffer talks about the difference between annual and periodical cicadas, and what to look out for this summer.

The total solar eclipse is April 8, 2024. Chief meteorologist Brent Watts talks with NASA's Anita Day about the eclipse and how scientists are using the opportunity to study the sun.

This year's abnormally warm winter has initiated plants and trees to bloom early, a trend that scientists are describing as the new standard. Meteorologist Payton Major dives into the environmental consequences of an early spring.

From understanding the watches and warnings to the hidden dangers in floodwaters, meteorologists Brent Watts and Leo Hirsbrunner are breaking down fact vs fiction to make sure you're prepared for the next big weather event.

NASA Atmospheric Scientist, Kirk Knobelspiesse joins us to discuss PACE: The Planketon, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. We chat about how this satellite will help us better understand how microscopic particles in the air and in our oceans impact our changing climate.

Whether it's products you use around your home or the safety of our roads when the weather gets icy, researchers at Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland are finding the human demand for salt comes at a cost to the environment. Chief meteorologist Brent Watts talks with Stanley Grant and Megan Rippy from Virginia Tech's Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory about what happens when all that salt hits our streams and what is being done to mitigate future threats.